The Use of Autofluorescence and Indocyanine Green to Avoid Hypocalcemia After Total Thyroidectomy: A Randomized Clinical Trial
* Hypoparathyroidism (and the resulting hypocalcemia) remains the most common morbidity after a total thyroidectomy. * The identification and preservation of parathyroid glands during neck surgery has always been challenging but is crucial to avoid postoperative hypocalcemia. * Recently, the specific autofluorescent characteristics of endogenous fluorophores in the parathyroid tissue have been used to detect and confirm parathyroid glands during thyroid surgery. * Injecting indocyanine green and using its fluorescent characteristics has the advantage of adding information about the vascular supply of the parathyroid glands. * This randomized clinical trial aims to investigate whether using autofluorescence and indocyanine green during thyroid surgery can predict or prevent postoperative hypocalcemia.
• All adult patients undergoing a total thyroidectomy without previous neck surgery.